Now tutoring isn't a time or place for independent working, you and your student should always be working together, but the choices in the Daily 5 method can be used in other ways than just for a full classroom full of students. The Daily 5 provides a great management system for a set literacy time. As students come to you each week, you might face the challenge of finding things to do with them, or maybe you are looking for a new routine to help keep him/her focused. By utilizing these FIVE practices into a set literacy time for you and your student, you will quickly see a student who is more engaged and excited about reading and writing. Here are the five components to the Daily 5 method and some what you can expect to accomplish:
Read to Self: We will become better readers with more practice. Read quietly, reread parts again if needed, pick a quiet spot to read and stay there.
Read to Someone: Read quietly to your partner, sit side by side, take turns reading, and build up stamina
Listen to Reading: Listening to good readers helps us become better readers! Listen the whole time, keep your voice silent, follow along with your finger or a bookmark.
Work on Writing: Better Writing = Better Reading...use this time to journal write, practice a writing skill or complete a life skill (most of our life skills include some sort of writing activity).
Word Work: This is a great time to work on spelling words, study new words, sort words, or play a word game.
How can you fit all of this into an hour and a half of tutoring?? By having a set time alotted for each activity, you will set an expectation for your student and you will also feel more prepared when wanting to help your student become a better reader. You might need to practice each part of the Daily 5 one at a time until you build up stamina with the routine. Don't just jump right into it....a routine takes time to learn and get used to for both you and your student. Here is an example of what a tutoring version of the Daily 5 might look like:
6:15-6:35
Read to Self/ Read to Someone/ Listen to Reading (choose only one)
6:40-7:00
Work on Writing
7:00-7:20
Word Work
Have fun with the Daily 5, let me know if you would like any help getting into a routine like this or something similar.
